Sir William Heathcote, 5th Baronet facts for kids
Sir William Heathcote, 5th Baronet (born May 17, 1801 – died August 17, 1881), was an important British landowner and a politician from the Conservative Party. He was known for his work in Parliament and his family's history.
Early Life and Education
William Heathcote was the son of Reverend William Heathcote. His grandfather was Sir William Heathcote, 3rd Baronet. William went to school at Winchester and then studied at Oriel College, Oxford. In 1825, when his uncle passed away, William became the fifth Baronet of Hursley. This also meant he inherited Hursley House, the family home in Hursley, Hampshire.
Political Career and Public Service
Heathcote began his political journey in 1826. He was elected as one of the two Members of Parliament (MPs) for Hampshire. He held this position until 1831. During this time, he was seen as part of a group called the Ultra-Tories, who were very traditional in their views.
He was later re-elected as an MP for Hampshire North from 1837 to 1849. After that, he represented Oxford University in Parliament from 1854 to 1868. Even though he was an MP for many years, he never held a position as a government minister. However, he was made a member of the Privy Council in 1870, which is a group of important advisors to the King or Queen.
Besides his work in Parliament, Heathcote also served as the High Sheriff of Hampshire for the years 1832 to 1833. This was an important local role. He also joined the Canterbury Association in 1848, a group involved in setting up the Canterbury settlement in New Zealand.
Family Life
Sir William Heathcote was married two times. His first wife was Caroline Frances, daughter of Charles Perceval. They got married in 1825 and had three sons and one daughter. Caroline passed away in March 1835.
In 1841, he married his second wife, Selina, who was the daughter of Evelyn Shirley. They had eight children together. Sir William Heathcote died in August 1881 when he was 80 years old. His oldest son from his first marriage, also named William, took over as the next Baronet. Lady Selina Heathcote lived until July 1901. Before she died, she sold Hursley House to Joseph William Baxendale, who owned the Pickfords logistics company.
